Food Fads: Our Favorite Short-lived Delights
The intellectual appetite that fuels college studies also fuels physical appetite. We eat snacks during those long study sessions and longer breaks; we stress eat; and – of course – we eat as procrastination. Occasionally, in a fit of nostalgia, we crave those foods we loved as kids. Many of these delights are long retired from the shelves – but in this trip down memory lane we bring them back to life.
Kellogg's Double-Dip Crunch cereal
“Honey on one side, nuts on the other! Two dips one great taste!” Oh, how many of us miss the Chex-like cereal of the 90s, discontinued in 1999. Cereal-lovers fondly remember its naturally sweet taste and, of course, the box prizes – one longtime lover remembers the enviable prize of a neon-colored wrist fanny-pack! The taste is emulated today by General Mills' Honey Nut Chex and Kroger's Honey Nut Bitz, which is solace for some, but inevitably disappointing for serious Double-Dip fans.
Post's Oreo O's cereal
“The delicious taste of Oreos in a fun-to-crunch cereal!” So begins the dessert-for-breakfast theme of this cereal drenched in sugar and marshmallows. Introduced in 1998 and discontinued in 2007, the chocolate-flavored O's were sprinkled with chunks of sugar. Many were the children who battled disapproving parents for a morning sugar-high. Apparently, though, the sugar content wasn't high enough for some: “extreme creme” marshmallows joined the sprinkled O's in our cereal bowls in 2001.
General Mills' Kix cereal
“Kid-Tested. Mother-Approved!” In a world of sugary kids' cereals, these healthy, crispy, and subtly sweet corn puffs – still sold in the United States – stand tall in a happy yellow box. Introduced in 1937, Kix grew up with America alongside advertisers like Shirley Temple and Kirsten Dunst. During WWII, boxes included a “Kix Airbase” with cut-outs of tanks, planes, and guns, and in 1947 the ever-popular “Kix Atomic Bomb Ring” that supposedly detected atomic radiation!
FritoLay 3D Doritos
“The whole new shape that begs to be eaten – in very loud ways.” The crispy, puffed-out Doritos were introduced in the 1998 Super Bowl ad, featuring former Miss USA Ali Landry flipping, somersaulting, and landing in the splits while catching Doritos in her mouth. Although the commercial clearly targeted a male audience, 3D Doritos were loved by many when released in 2000. Some of the various flavors even came in nifty cups. Fans were begging for more after it was discontinued, and have even initiated online petitions to bring them back.
Planters' Cheez Balls
“Have a ball – with Planters' Cheez Balls!” Known as Cheez Balls in the 80s and Cheez Mania in the 90s, the cheesy puffs that left a permanent orange stain on our hearts were discontinued in the early 2000s. An army of fans have posted online petitions to bring them back, and there have been occasional sightings in select Blockbusters stores. Today, people search high and low for the coveted blue cans, occasionally available for extortionate prices on EBay.
Coca-Cola with Lime
“You put the lime in the Coke, you nut, and you drink 'em all up!” The catchy commercial that put a citric twist on Harry Nilsson's classic song “Coconut” debuted in 2005 during a broadcast of “American Idol”. Stuck in the minds of millions of Americans, Adweek voted the ad “Best of the Month” in March 2005. Coca-Cola with Lime was released because of the soaring popularity of Diet Coke with Lime. Sadly, Coke never quite caught up with Diet Coke, and the lovable green bottle caps were removed from shelves in 2006.
Heinz EZ Squirt Colored Ketchup
Introduced in 2000, Heinz encouraged kids to play with their food with Blastin' Green, Funky Purple, and Stellar Blue. At first, EZ Squirt Ketchup ruled in land of hot dogs and fries. Its first color, “Blastin' Green”, was demanded by schools and celebrities even before it was released, and it is rumored that one person tried to get a bottle by impersonating a relative of the CEO. When it was finally released, people bought more than 10 million bottles in seven months. Subsequent colors like “Funky Purple” were expected to raise popularity of EZ Squirt Ketchup, but sadly it was just a fad: all varieties were discontinued in 2006.
Crispy M&Ms
The Orange M&M character wasn't always nameless. In 1999, he had a bright future as “Crispy” – the mascot for Crispy M&M's. M&M-lovers cannot forget the crispy rice center, and many begrudge the fact that they were discontinued in the United States in 2005, but are still available in several other countries. But don't despair: rumor has it that these crispy bits of joy will return to the States in 2011.
Photos courtesy of MrBreakfast.com, Giant Bomb Forums, Food and Fun from Home, Bros in the Kitchen, Once Upon a Win, Zamaningolgesi, Business Insider, Julie and Ed
